Abstract

The article explores the contentious meanings in Northern Ireland not only of‘democracy’ but also of ‘British’. It examines the influence of ideas ofmajoritarian democracy in Northern Ireland and how the legitimacy of thatmajoritarian narrative was challenged after 1969. The difficulties of developing analternative and shared narrative of democratic participation, known as powersharing,is considered and the current outline of the so-called Northern Irelandpolitical ‘model’ of democratic politics is described and its operative strengthsand deficiencies identified.